Singapore retail sales up 5.4% in April, surpassing forecasts

[SINGAPORE] The Republic’s retail sales rose 5.4 per cent year on year in April, extending the downwardly revised 4.6 per cent growth recorded in March, data from the Singapore Department of Statistics showed on Friday (Jun 5).

Most retail sectors recorded year-on-year growth in sales in April. The increase was led by petrol service stations; recreational goods; and motor vehicles, parts and accessories.

April’s performance exceeded the expectations of private-sector economists, who had forecast a median 4.4 per cent growth in a Bloomberg poll.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales increased 4.5 per cent, accelerating from March’s 3 per cent expansion.

On a seasonally adjusted, month-on-month basis, retail sales rose 0.3 per cent in April, easing from March’s 3.4 per cent expansion.

Excluding motor vehicles, retail sales grew 0.4 per cent on the month, against March’s 2.9 per cent expansion.

Retail sales categories

Year on year: 5.4 per cent Year on year, excluding motor vehicles: 4.5 per cent Month on month, seasonally adjusted: 0.3 per cent Month on month, seasonally adjusted, excluding motor vehicles: 0.4 per cent Total retail sales value: S$4.3 billion Year on year, sales grew in 11 of the 14 categories:

• Petrol service stations: 14.4 per cent
• Recreational goods: 12.3 per cent
• Motor vehicles: 10.7 per cent
• Wearing apparel and footwear: 7.8 per cent
• Watches and jewellery: 6.4 per cent
• Cosmetics, toiletries and medical goods: 6.2 per cent
• Supermarkets and hypermarkets: 5.8 per cent
• Optical goods and books: 5.1 per cent
• Computer and telecommunications equipment: 2.8 per cent
• Mini-marts and convenience stores: 2.5 per cent
• Furniture and household equipment: 1.4 per cent

These categories posted a decline:

• Food and alcohol: -0.1 per cent
• Department stores: -1.1 per cent
• Others: -6.6 per cent

F&B services growth

Year on year: 0.4 per cent

SEE ALSO

Singapore retail sales grow 4.8% in March, but cool from Chinese New Year-driven February surge

Month on month, seasonally adjusted: 1.1 per cent

• Fast-food outlets: 3.2 per cent
• Cafes: 2.4 per cent
• Food caterers: 1.5 per cent
• Restaurants: 1.2 per cent
• Food courts and other eating places: -3.6 per cent